Monday, March 31, 2014

SALVATION, SONSHIP, AND AN INHERITANCE

According to Ephesians 2:8, salvation is offered as a free gift to those who are willing to accept it. Romans 10:9 tells us that when a person believes in, and calls upon Jesus as his resurrected Lord, he is saved. John 1:12 says that those who accept Jesus, are saved and become the children of God. And, as a child of God, we will receive an inheritance from God, according to 1 Peter 1:3-12! Like salvation is a gift from God, so also is our inheritance; neither is earned, but both are provided by Someone who love His children!

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.8 You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.9 The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you.11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when He told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and His great glory afterward.12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. (1 Pet. 1:3-12)